Climate and Wildlife: Understanding the Ecosystems of Southeastern Utah
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Introduction
Utah is a state of extraordinary natural beauty and ecological diversity, boasting an impressive array of wildlife across its varied landscapes. From the arid deserts and vast plains to the rugged mountains and lush forests, Utah’s rich and diverse ecosystems provide habitats for a wide range of species. This diversity is particularly evident in the Southeastern Utah Group National Parks, which include Arches, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges, and Hovenweep. These parks, part of the Colorado Plateau, are renowned for their stunning geological formations and unique climates that shape the lives of the animals residing there.
From above figure we can see that Southeastern Utah’s national parks has the unique midlatitude scrubland ecosystem, which are shaped by climate factors such as precipitation, soil moisture, and temperature, provides a vital habitat for the region’s diverse animal species. The midlatitude scrublands of Southeastern Utah are home to an array of mammalian species, each adapted to the challenging climate and terrain. Mule deer are commonly seen grazing in the more vegetated areas, while desert bighorn sheep navigate the steep, rocky outcrops with remarkable agility. The elusive mountain lion, or cougar, is an apex predator in this region, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of prey species such as deer and smaller mammals. Coyotes are also prevalent, often spotted in open areas hunting for rodents and other small animals.
In this analysis, I will explore the intricate climate of Southeastern Utah—specifically precipitation, temperature, and other climatic factors— which results in the wildlife that inhabits this region. Understanding these relationships is crucial for appreciating how animals have adapted to survive in such diverse and often harsh environments. This examination will also highlight the importance of preserving these natural habitats to maintain the ecological balance and protect the biodiversity of Southeastern Utah.
By delving into the specific climate characteristics of the Southeastern Utah Group National Parks and their impact on local wildlife, i aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the region’s ecological dynamics. This introduction sets the stage for a detailed analysis of how climatic factors influence the presence, behavior, and survival strategies of various species in one of Utah’s most iconic and ecologically significant regions.
1. How have the temperature and precipitation patterns changed over the historic period in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks?
Temperature trends
Tip
Click the words in the legend to switch season to see more obvious temperature trend.
In the summer temperature trends, the mean summer temperature swings between 20-24°C throughout the year from 1980-2015, after that there is a slight upward trend in the summer temperatures around 23 °C and above, which suggests a warming trend in summer temperatures over the more recent years.
In the winter temperature trends show the mean winter temperature are swing between -3 to 3°C in the year before 2016, and then mean winter temperatures consistently around 0°C or slightly above, which suggests a clear warming trend in winter temperatures over the historical period.
Both summer and winter temperatures show an overall increasing trend, which aligns with broader global warming patterns, especially corresponding to the news that 2016 was the warmest year on record for the globe until 2023, and the 10 warmest years in the 174-year record have all occurred during the last decade (2014–2023) according to the 28th annual State of the Climate report.
However, since the temperature data from 2020-2024 is nearterm data, it successfully captures the recent warming trend in the summer and winter temperatures, which is consistent with the global warming trend, however, it did not capture the extreme temperature events that occurred in 2023, which beats the next warmest year 2016.
Although 2024 is still halfway through the year, but Looking ahead, there is a one-in-three chance that 2024 will be warmer than 2023, and a 99% chance that 2024 will rank among the top five warmest years.
Map showing the global average surface temperature in 2023 compared to the average from 1991 to 2020. Red indicates areas that were warmer than normal, and blue indicates areas that were colder than usual. The graph’s bars compare annual worldwide temperatures to the average for the 20th century starting in 2023 (on the right) and ending in 1976 (on the left), which was the last year in which global temperatures were below average. built using information from the National Centers for Environmental Information of NOAA. (Photo courtesy of NOAA Climate.gov, which used NOAA NCEI data.)
Precipitation trends
Tip
Click the words in the legend to switch season to see more obvious preciption trend.
We can see that the precipitation is not balanced between summer and winter in the historic period, sometimes the precipitation in winter is more and vice versa. However, in recent years(2020-2024), the nearterm data shows the precipitation in summer and winter do not make any notable difference in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks.
Also, we can also know that the contiguous annual precipitation is lower in recent years (2020-2024) than historic period, which aligns with the report about ‘contiguous U.S. average annual precipitation in 2023 was 29.46 inches, 0.48 inch below average, ranking in the driest third of the 129-year record, when 2022 is even dryer than 2023’.
2.Are vegetation type related to climate in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks?
Utah is known for its arid and semi-arid climate, characterized by low annual precipitation and high evaporation rates. These conditions create a challenging environment for vegetation, leading to a unique adaptation of plant species. Understanding whether vegetation types in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks are related to the region’s dry climate can provide insights into how plants adapt to aridity and the potential impacts of climate change on these ecosystems.
Looking at the annual vegetation cover in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks, we can see that the bare ground is the most dominant vegetation type, followed by shrubs, plant litter tree canopy and herbaceous cover. The bare ground has the highest average coverage percentage (~56.53%), indicating that a significant portion of the area is bare ground.This high proportion of bare ground is typical for arid and semi-arid regions like Southeastern Utah, which is characterized by desert landscapes.
Factors such as Low Precipitation can contribute to this since Southeastern Utah receives limited rainfall. Utah is the third driest US states, which affects the growth of vegetation, as well as the soil in this region may be sandy or rocky, which further limits vegetation growth.
2022 drought monitor in US
We can see that Utah comes at 52% in percentages of Extreme and Exceptional categories historically in 2022.
Shrubs cover around 20% of the area, and herbs cover about 15%, Shrubs and herbaceous plants in this region are typically drought-tolerant and adapted to survive in harsh conditions, and these plants play crucial roles in preventing soil erosion, providing habitat and food for wildlife, and contributing to the overall biodiversity of the region. The tree canopy covers only about 10% of the area.
The limited tree cover may consist of species like pinyon pine and juniper, which are adapted to arid conditions but still require more water than shrubs or herbs.
Trees generally have higher water requirements, and their limited presence reflects the scarcity of water in this environment. Litter, comprising fallen leaves, branches, and organic material, covers about 11% of the area. The limited litter coverage can be attributed to the sparse vegetation and low tree density and litter plays a role in nutrient cycling and soil fertility.
3.What is the relationship between geographical coordinates (longitude and latitude) and soil moisture?
Understanding the relationship between geographical coordinates (longitude and latitude) and soil moisture is crucial for ecological study. Soil moisture varies significantly across different regions due to factors such as climate, topography, and land use. By analyzing soil moisture patterns in relation to longitude and latitude, we can identify how geographic location influences water availability in the soil.
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From this map, we can see that the soil moisture is related to the geographical location (longitude and latitude). And the soil moisture in the northeast is higher than the southwest, which is consistent with the fact that the northeastern areas might benefit from snowmelt from higher elevations, which can contribute significantly to soil moisture during the melting season. Also, the topographical features such as valleys and basins in the northeast can act as catchment areas where water accumulates, increasing soil moisture. Conversely, the southwest might have more runoff, leading to drier soils. What’s more, the dense vegetation can help retain soil moisture by providing shade, reducing evaporation, and promoting water infiltration. The northeast might have denser vegetation compared to the southwest. Different types of vegetation have varying water requirements and retention capabilities. The northeast might support vegetation types that are better at retaining soil moisture.
4.How do frost Days and dry Soil Days in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks changed over years and can they reveal the global warming?
Understanding the changes in frost days and dry soil days over the years in the Southeastern Utah Group National Parks can provide valuable insights into the impacts of global warming. Frost days, which are days with temperatures dropping below freezing, have implications for plant and animal life, affecting growth cycles and survival rates. Dry soil days, characterized by low soil moisture, impact vegetation health and water availability. Analyzing long-term trends in these metrics can reveal patterns of climate change and its effects on this region’s ecosystems.
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We can see from the fig-charts5 that in recent years, the maximum frost days seem to have decreased slightly, suggesting a trend towards milder winters; and in contrast, the maximum values for dry soil days show an increasing trend over the years, especially from 2021 onwards, suggesting that there are periods of intense dryness. This conclusion corresponds to my analysis before and the global warming trend as well.
5.Are Wildlife in Southeastern Utah Group National Parks related to climate?
Before i dive into the relationship between wildlife and climate, let’s first visualzie to narrow down/locate the geolocations in the Southeastern Utah Group National Parks dataset, which can better help us understand the relationship between wildlife and climate. Although Southeastern Utah primarily has a dry, semi-arid and desert climate in general, the region’s diverse topography and elevation variations create a range of microclimates that support a wide variety of wildlife species.
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From fig-charts6 we can see that the data for Natural Bridges National Monument primarily consists of the Southeastern Utah Group National Parks dataset.
A Cute Mule Deer
Isometric 3D of USA Wildlife Map
And according to the national park service, Mule deer are the most commonly spotted large mammals in this natrual bridges park, plot ‘Isometric 3D of USA Wildlife Map’ also shows about that mule deer are among the most watchable Utah wildlife.
Mule deer are often seen in the early morning and late evening. Mule deer are herbivores and feed on grasses, shrubs, and other vegetation. They are well-adapted to the arid environment of the park and can go for long periods without water. Mule deer are an important part of the park’s ecosystem and play a role in seed dispersal and vegetation management.
Conclusion
In my exploration of the Southeastern Utah Group National Parks, i have uncovered that the parks continue to experience temperature increases and precipitation decreases, along with the maximum frost days decreased slight and the maximum dry soil days show an increasing trend. All of theae are consistent with broader global warming trends.
These changes have implications for vegetation cover, and i found that the bare ground is the most dominant vegetation type, followed by shrubs, plant litter tree canopy and herbaceous cover. They rank by the requirement of water.
Also,soil moisture in southeastern parks is also related to the geolocation, and northeast is higher than the southwest area, which is consistent with the fact that the northeastern areas might benefit from snowmelt from higher elevations, which can contribute significantly to soil moisture during the melting season. Dense vegetation in northeast can also help retain soil moisture by providing shade, reducing evaporation, and promoting water infiltration as well.
What’s more, for wildlife, Mule deer are the most commonly spotted large mammals in this natrual bridges park for they are well-adapted to the arid environment of the park and can go for long periods without water. Temperature increases and precipitation patterns are chanllenging wildlife behavior and habitat use. Species such as the desert tortoise, collared lizard, and pronghorn antelope exhibit remarkable adaptations to survive in these environments, from water conservation mechanisms to high-speed evasion of predators.
Climate models predict further warming and increased variability in precipitation for Southeastern Utah. These changes could exacerbate stress on local wildlife, potentially leading to shifts in species distribution, altered migration patterns, and increased vulnerability of certain species. Continued habitat fragmentation and human activities further complicate these challenges.
To mitigate these impacts, conservation efforts must focus on preserving critical habitats, maintaining connectivity between ecosystems, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. By not only protecting the unique biodiversity of Southeastern Utah Group National Parks,and implementing strategies to adapt to shifting climate patterns, we can ensure the long-term survival of the region’s iconic species and maintain the ecological balance of this extraordinary landscape.
Animals Most Impacted by Climate Change
Climate change poses significant threats to numerous animal species across the globe, causing habitat loss, food scarcity, and disrupted reproductive cycles.
The Bramble Cay mosaic-tailed rat, extinct due to rising sea levels eliminating its habitat.
Corals suffer from ocean acidification and rising temperatures, leading to mass die-offs.
Polar bears face habitat loss as Arctic sea ice melts, increasing human-wildlife conflicts.
Referenecs
IFAW. 2024. “Which Animals Are Most Impacted by Climate Change?” https://www.ifaw.org/international/journal/animals-most-impacted-climate-change.
National Park Service. n.d. “Animals - Natural Bridges National Monument.” https://www.nps.gov/nabr/learn/nature/animals.htm#:~:text=Mule%20deer%20are%20the%20most%20commonly%20spotted%20large%20mammals%20in%20the%20park.&text=Although%20you%20may%20not%20see,by%20a%20majority%20of%20visitors.
NOAA. 2023. “2023 Was World’s Warmest Year on Record by Far.” https://www.noaa.gov/news/2023-was-worlds-warmest-year-on-record-by-far.
OKC Fox. 2023. “Oklahoma Driest State by Far in the US Drought Monitor.” https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-driest-state-by-far-in-the-us-drought-monitor-rain-extreme-exceptional-red-flag-warnings-burn-bans-weather-united-states.
Survey, U. S. Geological. 2024. “Climate and Drought Adaptation: Historical and Projected Future Exposure Metrics for Southeastern Utah Group National Parks.” https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/61a6952fd34eb622f6978d9f.